Improved steebing appabatus



@with tetes @strut ffice.

nonnrio F. HICKS, or GRAND View, iNDiANA. Letters Patent No. 61937, dated February 12, 1867; antedated January 28, 1867.

IMPROVED STEERING APPARATUS. l

TO ALLWIIOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, HORATIO F. HICKS, of Grand View, in the county of' Spencer, and State of Indians., have invented certain new and useful improvements in Steering Apparatus for Steamboats; an'd I do hereby declare that the following is a. full, clear, and exact description of the sume, reference being had to the aecompnuying drawings, und to the letters of reference marked thereon. fIn the annexed drawings, making "partV of this specificationp y A represents the hull of a. steamboat, with n deck, B; C represents the steum boiler, from which steam is conducted to two smull cylinders D D, through pipes E E, steam chests G, and pipes F. i Within the steam chests are valves of any approved construction for allowing steam to the cylinders when theyiure properly operuted` To each of the cylinders isc. piston-rod, S S, and to each of these rods are secured two rods, N N,'which connect ut their outer ends to the ends of o bur, l?, which is secured upon the upper end of the rudder-shaft. 0 represents the rudder-shaft. It will 'be seen that when steam acts upon one of the piston-rods shoving it out, said rod moves one of the rods N endwisc, and partially turning or revolving the bnr P, cuuses'the rudder to turn in the water and thus give direction to the boat in one way. The opposite piston-rod when operated will give direction to the boat in the opposite direction. a represents alever, which 4operates the vulve in the steam chest. There is of course a lever of ythis kind to each chest. J J represent rods, which are secured et their lower ends to the outer ends of the levers a-a. Said rods pass up through the deck to the pilot house, und areto he used by the pilot Ain opernti'ng the steam to give'directiou to the hout. H represents an elbow-lever, one end `of which connects to the lever a by 'means of u link, x. To the lother end of lever His itttuched a. rod, K,

which runs forward or which may run aft. The object of this rod is that. the bout may be guided or steered from the forward or after part of the boat. This muy be of great service in case of re when the pilot is unable to remaiuin his house on deck, as he may thus guide his bout to land upon any of the rivers of the country ands'ave life and property. represents a bar, which serves es an index. Said har is placed where it con be seen by theengineer, and is connected to the piston-rods This index moves with each movement of a. piston and enables the engineer to tell in what position the rudder is standingY The index is secured to the lower end of a. shaft, which said shaft passes up through the deck, and has upon its upper end u pointer, d, which con be seen by the pilot to let him know that the rudder is working properly. The steam chests are not here connected to the cylinders closely, but it is intended that they shull be, if desired, and generally. When the two pistons are not either of them operated uponby steam, the rudder stands straight out ostern.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by LettersIfnteut, is

1. The 'arrangement of the pistons S S,'rods L, index M, and pointer d, substantially as and for thepurpose specied. 4

2. The arrangement of the levers H H, with levers a a, end reds K., by means of which the boat may be steered from forward or aft, substantially as set forth.' i i As evidence that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand inthe presence of two witnesses.

' HORATIO -F. lHICKS.

Witnesses:

L. C. PARKER, J. D. Arnusrnnms.` 

